Thai economy to get 'jolt' from stimulus rollout this month

The government will distribute about 145 billion baht ($4.36 billion), or a third of the overall amount from September 25 to low-income earners and vulnerable groups to kick-start the stimulus drive for Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, which grew just 1.9 percent last year, far adrift of peers.

Less than 40 million Thais are expected to sign up to receive payments of 10,000 baht, mostly via a smartphone application, to be spent within six months in their communities.